Biometrically enhanced digital certificates and system and method for making and using

A method for generating a biometrically enhanced certificate comprising:

• obtaining a biometric data sample;
• processing said biometric data sample to yield processed biometric information;
• generating biometric certificate fields utilizing said compressed biometric information;
• and
• submitting certificate information including said biometric certificate fields to at least one third-party authority.

A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system having at least one processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computer program mechanism, comprising:

• a program module that directs the computer to function in a specified manner to generate a biometrically enhanced certificate, the program module including instructions for:
• obtaining a biometric data sample;
• processing said biometric data sample to yield processed biometric information;
• generating biometric certificate fields utilizing said compressed biometric information;
• submitting certificate information including said biometric certificate fields to at least one third-party authority;
• and
• receiving a signed certificate.

A digital certificate for use in a public key infrastructure, said certificate comprising:

• a public key field comprising a public key;
• a biometric certificate field comprising scan sampled biometric data including processed biometric data, a biometric template, and a hash value;
• wherein said public key and said biometric data are associated with a same entity;
• said certificate is an X.509 certificate comprising private extensions, and wherein said private extensions comprise said biometric information;
• and
• said biometric data sample comprises a biometric data sample selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint scan, a facial image, an iris scan, a retinal scan, a voice recording, a DNA sample, a saliva sample, and combinations thereof.